• 100 volunteers join Dubai Cares at Al Manama Private Charity School in Ajman
• 2,000 volunteers sign up for the initiative within the first 24 hours following the announcement
• The Coca Cola-sponsored edition is in support of ‘Year of Giving 2017’

Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has successfully completed the first edition of its Volunteer Emirates 2017 initiative, which took place at Al Manama Private Charity School in Ajman. The popular initiative, which supports the UAE non-profit education sector, saw more than 100 volunteers from across the UAE come together to dedicate their time and efforts to enrich the school's learning environment by providing equipment and school furniture, as well as improving the learning conditions for more than 520 students.

Speaking from Al Manama Private Charity School in Ajman on the latest edition of Volunteer Emirates, and its alignment with the UAE’s ‘Year of Giving 2017’, Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Cares said: “There is no doubt that Dubai Cares’ Volunteer Emirates is one of our most popular volunteering initiatives. However this edition was even more popular than usual, with more than 2,000 volunteers signing up in the first 24 hours following the announcement. The declaration of 2017 as the 'Year of Giving' by His Highness sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has reinvigorated the community's commitment to community service and volunteering. Today, we are again witnessing the true sense of service and commitment that exists among members of our society who are helping children get the best possible start in life. We are also grateful to Coca-Cola for supporting Dubai Cares as well as Year of Giving 2017.”

Speaking on this partnership, Murat Ozgel, General Manager for Coca-Cola Middle East said: “We are happy to be partnering with Dubai Cares in its efforts to support the community here in the UAE, through the Emirates Volunteers initiative. At Coca-Cola we share with Dubai Cares the vision of engaging and contributing to the communities that we operate in, and the happiness and enthusiasm with which all the volunteers contributed to the renovation of the Al Manama Private Charity School is a wonderful example of these shared values.”

“We are inspired by the UAE leadership’s vision for The Year of Giving to give our time and energy to improving the educational and recreational environment for children in the community. Coca-Cola is grateful to Dubai Cares for recognizing this shared commitment and for involving us in its Emirates Volunteers initiative which we will continue to support throughout 2017.”

The first edition of Volunteer Emirates 2017 saw 100 volunteers take part in various activities, which included distributing 550 student backpacks and stationary sets, drawing educational murals across the schools’ corridors and providing educational material and sports equipment. The volunteers also helped provide desks and chairs for teachers and replacing the existing furniture in the teachers’ lounges and principal’s office.

Ibrahim Al Charbiny, Principal of Al Manama Private Charity School in Ajman, said: “We are excited to see the reaction from students and teachers alike when they see the many positive improvements made to the school, made possible by Dubai Cares and its volunteers. We are truly grateful to those who lend a helping hand to support non-profit schools in the UAE. All students deserve to have the tools they need to learn and prosper.”

Noemi Larson, a volunteer from Denmark said: “What started out as something-to-do-in-the-weekend activity turned out to be a rewarding social activity and I always look forward for more activities. I always feel excited joining the Dubai Cares’ volunteering events. Volunteering for Dubai Cares gives me a sense of belonging and fulfillment. I love working with my Dubai Cares’ family, enjoy meeting new friends during the events and I'm proud and privileged that somehow I can contribute something to the society. I commend the work Dubai Cares has provided to the local and international communities. In my own little way and in the small service I could render, it's great to be a part of this organization.”

“We are truly grateful to Coca-Cola for sponsoring this edition of Volunteer Emirates, thus covering all expenses for the initiative as well as committing the time and efforts of 25 of their employees who volunteered with us today,” said Amal Al Redha, Director of Fundraising at Dubai Cares.